Garment hanger apparatus

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger apparatus includes an elongated barrel having opposed ends and a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential groves formed completely around the circumference of the exterior surface of the barrel. A frame having a pair of ends, one each of the pair of ends disposed in one end of the opposed ends of the elongated barrel, the frame further having an open end loop portion disposed transverse to the elongated barrel and with the open end facing the barrel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/089,970, filed Aug. 19, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to garment hangers, and more particularly, relating to an apparatus for hanging a plurality of garment hangers from a vehicle garment hanger hook.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most passenger motor vehicles are equipped with a garment hanger hook in one form or another as a convenience accessory for hanging a garment hung on a garment hanger, such as a coat. Typically, vehicle garment hanger hooks are conveniently located just above a rear passenger door providing easy access thereto. While most vehicle garment hanger hooks serve their intended purpose, they are not suitable for hanging more than only a couple of garments, which presents a problem when there is a need to a hang a number of garments beyond the capacity of the vehicle garment hanger hook. This problem is frequently encountered for example when transporting hanging clothes to and from the dry cleaners or Laundromat, or by car travelers traveling with hung clothing. A frequently utilized solution to this problem is found in installing a vehicle clothes bar across the width of the interior of the passenger cabin. Installing a vehicle clothes bar in a vehicle as a solution to the problem of transporting hung clothing presents several drawbacks. One drawback is passengers are unable to use the rear passenger portion of the vehicle passenger cabin when vehicle clothes bar is installed. Another drawback is the drivers rear view can be obstructed by the vehicle clothes bar and hung clothes extending across the width of the vehicle. Additionally, the manual handling of a bundle of clothing on garment hangers is often cumbersome, and uncomfortable as a result of the weight of the clothing and the hanger hooks digging into one's fingers and palms.

Accordingly, there is a need and a desire for a garment hanger carrier that is suitable for one to manually carry a bundle of clothing on garment hangers. Further there is a need and desire for a garment hanger carrier that can be hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook to hang more garments than possible with the vehicle garment hook alone. Further there is a need and a desire for a garment hanger carrier that can be hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook while permitting passenger use of the rear passenger portion of a vehicle passenger cabin. Further there is a need and a desire for a garment hanger carrier than can by hung from a vehicle garment hook that does not obstruct the driver's rear view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention address these needs by providing a garment hanger apparatus that is suitable for one to manually carry a bundle of clothing on garment hangers, by providing a garment hanger apparatus that can be hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook to hang more garments than possible with the vehicle garment hook alone, by providing a garment hanger apparatus that can be hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook while permitting passenger use of the rear passenger portion of a vehicle passenger cabin, and by providing a garment hanger apparatus than can by hung from a vehicle garment hook that does not obstruct the driver's rear view.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a garment hanger apparatus that is both easy to use and simple to manufacture.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide a garment hanger apparatus that is easily stored when not in use.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention further provide a garment hanger apparatus that positions garment hangers hung thereon across a support and prevents sliding of the garment hangers.

To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a garment hanger apparatus for supporting one or more garment hangers is provided. The garment hanger apparatus includes an elongated barrel having opposed ends and a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential groves formed completely around the circumference of the exterior surface of the barrel. A frame having a pair of ends, one each of the pair of ends disposed in one end of the opposed ends of the elongated barrel, the frame further having an open end loop portion disposed transverse to the elongated barrel and with the open end facing the barrel.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is an environment perspective view of a garment hanger apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in use within a passenger cabin of a motor vehicle and hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative side view of the garment hanger apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative top view of the garment hanger apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative end view of the garment hanger apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative perspective view of the garment hanger apparatus in use and being grasped by one's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, there is an environment illustration of a garment hanger apparatus 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment in use within a passenger cabin of a motor vehicle. The garment hanger apparatus 10 is hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook 12 by loop 14. One or more garment hangers 16 each having a garment 18 are hung from barrel 20 of the garment hanger apparatus 10 by the hook portion 22 of each garment hanger. As is depicted here, the garment hanger apparatus 10 permits a number of garment hangers 16 to be hung from the vehicle garment hanger hook 12 than possible with the vehicle garment hanger hook alone. Further, it clearly can be seen the garment hanger apparatus 10 does extend a great distance into and across the vehicle passenger cabin, thereby not blocking a driver's review view.

With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, barrel 20 has opposed ends 24 and 26 with a length extending therebetween. Barrel 20 is generally elongated having a length many times greater than its diameter. In one aspect, the barrel 20 is of a length between about 2.5 inches and 3.0 inches, and has a diameter of about 9/16 of inch. The barrel 20 is preferably made of a suitable metal including brass. However, plastics and other metals and metal alloys could be used for the barrel 20. A plurality of circumferential groves 28 are spaced longitudinally across the length of the barrel 20 between ends 24 and 26. The circumferential grooves 28 are formed through the exterior surface 30 of the barrel and extend continuously around the circumference thereof, and define alternating valley's and ridges across the length of the barrel. The circumferential grooves 28 are dimensioned to at least partially receive therein, in a crosswise manner, one or more hook portions 22 of garment hangers 16, and prevent sliding of garment hangers across the barrel 20.

Frame 32 includes a pair of inwardly turned ends 34 and 36 that are disposed in ends 24 and 26, respectively, of barrel 20, such as for example in longitudinal through bore 38 extending between ends 24 and 26. Barrel 20 is rotatable about ends 34 and 36 of frame 32 on an axis of rotation 40 that generally extends between ends 34 and 36. Rotation of barrel 20 permits the barrel to self-orientate along axis 40 under the downward force created by the weight of one or more garment hangers the barrel, and thus ensuring the garment hangers remain generally in a vertical orientation. To prevent the wrinkling or the bunching of a garment on a garment hanger it is important the garment hanger remains generally vertical, and rotation of barrel 20 ensure this.

Frame 32 further includes loop 14, which is an open end loop, as best seen in FIG. 3. Loop 14 is generally U-shaped and is disposed transverse to barrel 20 with open end 42 facing towards the barrel. The U-shaped open end loop 14 provides an advantage over a closed end loop, such as for example, a ring-shaped loop in the hanging of the garment hanger apparatus 10 on a vehicle garment hanger hook. The open end 42 permits the loop 14 to be positioned about and to be slid downwardly over a vehicle garment hanger hook. Whereas a ring-shaped loop requires tilting of the loop with respect to a vehicle garment hanger to permit a similar action, which can be quite difficult due to the weight of hung garments.

Loop 14 being disposed transverse to barrel 20 permits the barrel to be oriented in a general direction side-to-side of a vehicle when hung from a vehicle garment hanger hook. In this manner, garments are then oriented in a general direction forward-to-rear of the vehicle, which provides the most available room for the garments. Otherwise, the garments would likely be pressed against the side of the vehicle.

Frame 32 further includes frame members 44 and 46 that connect loop 14 to ends 34 and 36. Frame 32 defines a hand opening 48 between barrel 20 through which one's hand may be passed for grasping of frame members 44 and 46, as best seen in FIG. 5. In this manner, one may manually transport garment hangers 16 without the hook portions 22 digging into one's hand. Further, the weight of the garments are more evenly spread across one's hand as opposed to trying to grasp the hook portions 22 with a few fingers.

As shown, frame 32 is constructed of a single piece of metal wire 50 bent to form ends 34 and 36, frame members 44 and 46 and loop 14. Alternatively, frame 32 could be made by casting, injection molding or by any other suitable method.

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A garment hanger device for supporting one or more garment hangers, the garment hanger device, comprising: an elongated barrel having opposed ends and a plurality of longitudinally spaced circumferential groves formed completely around the circumference of the exterior surface of said barrel; and a frame having a pair of ends, one each of said pair of ends disposed in one end of said opposed ends of said elongated barrel, said frame further having an open end loop portion disposed transverse to said elongated barrel and with said open end facing said barrel.
 2. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein said barrel is rotatable about a longitudinal axis generally extending between said pair of ends of said frame.
 3. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein said frame is formed from a single piece of wire.
 4. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein said barrel included an longitudinal axial through bore, and wherein each of said pair of ends is disposed in said through bore.
 5. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein said open end loop portion is U-shaped. 